Cord clamping means



Feb. 12, 1952 ERTEL 2,585,543

CORD CLAMPING MEANS Original Filed Jan. 25. 1945 INVENTOR. Jose P h E rt e I ATTORNEjK Fatented Feb. 12, 1952 UNITED CORD CLAMPING MEANS Joseph Ertel, Jackson Heights, N. Y.

Substituted for abandoned application Serial No. 574,476, January 25, 1945.v This application 7 March 12, 1946, Serial No. 653,766

3 Claims. (Cl. 24-123) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a clamp means for securing together the bottom ends of depending cords and the present application is a substitute for my abandoned application filed on January 25, 1945, Serial Number 574,476.

More particularly, the invention proposes new improvements in a cord clamping means which forms part of a toy characterized by a plate for chicken feed with toy chickens on the plate and having pivotally mounted heads resting on the plate and raisable with cords passing through openings in the plate. The invention proposes a certain arrangement and construction of a cord clamping means which is to function as a weight suspended by the cords for causing the chickens to raise and lower their heads.

It is proposed to characterize the new and improved cord clamping means by the fact that it includes a ball having a diametral opening through which said cords pass, and by a tubular member mounted in the bottom of said vertical opening and having slots into which the ends of the cords are forced for suspending the ball. With this arrangement it is a simple matter to connect the cords together to obtain the proper action of the heads of the chickens. 1

Still further the invention contemplates constructing the cord clamping means to make it possible to control the heads of the chickens in a fashion that one head may be left stationary while the others move at will.

Still further the invention proposes the construction of a cord clamping means as mentioned, which is simple, relatively durable, and which can be manufactured and sold at low cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toy having a cord clamping means constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of Fig. 1, this section being taken through the center of one of the chickens of the toy.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the clamp ring, per se.

The cordclamping means, in accordance with the present invention, is illustrated forming part of a toy which includes a plate It) for supporting chicken feed and provided with chickens ll having pivotally mounted heads I2 normally rested on the plate Ill and raisable with cords l4 passing through the plate [0.

Each of the chickens II has a body l5 which is supported by two small dowel rods l6 simulating the legs of the chicken. Each body l5 has a tail H. The front of the body I5 is formed with a slot l8 into which the neck portion of the head l2 engages. supported by a pintle 20. By gravity, the heads H normally assume positions on the plate l0. Each cord i4 passes through an opening 2| in the plate It, and has its upper end disposed in a slot l2 in the head [2 connected to the inner end of the neck l2 at l2 by which the head of the chicken may be raised when the cord I4 is pulled downwards.

The plate I0 isprovided with a handle 26 by which it maybe conveniently supported and tilted in various directions. The cords l4 have their bottom ends connected together by the cord clamping means of the present invention, which functions as a weight.

The operation of the toy consists merely of supporting the plate [0 horizontally, by holding the handle 26. Then the plate I0 may be tilted in various directions, so as to offset the cord clamping means, in relation to the axis of the group of chickens l I. This will transfer the mass of the weight of the cord clamping means to certain of the cords M which will be pulled,.causing the heads of those particular chickens to pivot upward. The plate [0 may be tilted around in a complete circle to cause the cord clamping means to swing correspondingly, and then the chickens will raise their heads in succession around in a circle.

The cord clamping means, according to the present invention, includes a ball 30 having a diametral opening 3|, through which a tubular member 32 passes. This tubular member 32 normally projects from the top of the ball 30. It is provided with a radially projecting pin 33 which in a certain turned position of the tubular member 32 aligns with a keyway or slot 34 formed along one side of opening 3|. v

The bottom end of the tube 32 is provided with head 35 which is formed with a plurality of radial slots 36 through which the cords l4 freely This neck portion is pivotally 3 pass. The free ends of the cords i4 extend upward outside of the head 35 and are fixedly held by a clamp ring 31' which engages in an annular groove 38 formed concentric in the bottom of the ball 30. This clamp ring 31 is a split ring which normally tends to open and which may be slight- 1y compressed when placed in the groove 38. The ends of the cords M are clamped between this ring and the side wall of the groove 38. One of the slots, indicated by the reference numeral 36' is deeper than the other slots 36. This slot 36' extends upward to a point near the top of tube 32.

When desired, the tube 32 may be turned so that the pin 33 is aligned with the slot 34. Then, the tube 32 may be moved downward, so as to draw downward the cords l4, except one cord 14', that one which passes through the deep slot 36 and this cord is not clamped by the ring 37, so it can slide in the deep slot 36'. The toy may then be operated in the usual way, but because of the deep slot 36, the one cord which is positioned through this deep slot will never be drawn as the weight 38 swings around, and one chicken will not raise its head.

The present disclosure is intended to show but one use of the cord clamping means of the present invention. Other uses will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and the present disclosure should in no way restrict the adaption of the present cord clamping means to such other uses.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. Clamp means for securing together the bottom ends of a plurality of depending cords, comprising a ball having a vertically disposed opening, a tubular member extended through said opening and through which the cords are extended, said ball having a circumferential groove concentric with said opening and being open to the bottom of said ball, said tubular member having radially spaced slots extended upward a short distance from the bottom end of said tubular member through which said cords are passed so that their bottom end portions can be engaged into said groove, one of said slots being extended upward to a point adjacent the top end of said tubular member, and a clamp ring in said groove 4 retaining the bottom end portions of said cords in position in said groove.

2. Clamp means for securing together the bottom ends of a plurality of depending cords, comprising a ball having a vertically disposed opening, a tubular member extended through said opening and through which the cords are extended, said ball having a circumferential groove concentric with said opening and being open to the bottom of said ball, said tubular member having radially spaced slots extended upward a short distance from the bottom end of said tubular member through which said cords are passed so that their bottom end portions can be engaged into said groove, one of said slots being extended upward to a point adjacent the top end of said tubular member, and a clamp ring in said groove retaining the bottom end portions of said cords in position in said groove, said tubular member being slidably extended through said opening, and means for retaining said tubular member in one fixed position relative to said ball.

3. Clamp means for securing together the bottom ends of a plurality of depending cords, comprising a ball having a vertically disposed opening, a tubular member extended through said opening and through which the cords are extended, said ball having a circumferential groove concentric with said opening and being open to the bottom of said ball, said tubular member having radially spaced slots extended upward a short distance from the bottom end of said tubular member through which said cords are passed so that their bottom end portions can be engaged into said groove, one of said slots being extended upward to a point adjacent the top end of said tubular member, and a clamp ring in said groove retaining the bottom end portions of said cords in position in said groove, said tubular member being extended through said opening for vertical adjustment therein. v I

JOSEPH ERTEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 7 Name Date 1,506,126 Kuenz r Aug, 26, 1924 1,723,723 FOX r. Aug. 6, 1929 1,832,930 Matthes Nov. 24, 19 31 1,973,950 SCI'llGgfil Oct. 30, 1934 2,011,977 Lawiel'lc Aug. 20, 1935 2,267,032 Jflkifls D80. 23, 1941 

